zero drink drive policy announced, but just for young drivers?

[clapham_gull]

Thirdly, what about common sense? I enjoy a pint, maybe followed by a shandy, with friends or family and have combined this with driving for 20 years without incident. Why should I lose my freedom in this way?

Not directed at you though is it ?

Forgive me is this table is out of date

Country Standard BAC (in mg/ml)
Botswana 0.8
Canada 0.8
Guatemala 0.8
Ireland 0.8
Kenya 0.8
Luxembourg 0.8
Malaysia 0.8
Malta 0.8
Mexico 0.8
New Zealand 0.8
Nicaragua 0.8
Paraguay 0.8
Singapore 0.8
United Kingdom 0.8
United States 0.8
Uruguay 0.8
Zimbabwe 0.8
Bolivia 0.7
Ecuador 0.7
Honduras 0.7
Brazil 0.6
South Korea, Rep of 0.52
Argentina 0.5
Australia 0.5
Austria 0.5
Belarus 0.5
Belgium 0.5
Bosnia and Herzegovina 0.5
Bulgaria 0.5
Cambodia 0.5
China 0.5
Croatia (Republic of) 0.5
Denmark 0.5
El Salvador 0.5
Finland 0.5
France 0.5
Germany 0.5
Greece 0.5
Iceland 0.5
Israel 0.5
Italy 0.5
Kyrgyzstan 0.5
Macedonia 0.5
Mauritius 0.5
Peru 0.5
Philippines 0.5
Portugal 0.5
Slovenia 0.5
South Africa 0.5
Spain 0.5
Switzerland 0.5
Thailand 0.5
The Netherlands 0.5
Turkey 0.5
Uganda 0.5
Venezuela 0.5
Costa Rica 0.49
Latvia 0.49
Lithuania 0.4
Georgia 0.3
India 0.3
Japan 0.3
Moldova 0.3
Russia 0.3
Turkmenistan 0.3
Estonia 0.2
Mongolia 0.2
Norway 0.2
Poland 0.2
Sweden 0.2
Albania 0.1
Algeria 0.1
Armenia 0
Azerbaijan 0
Colombia 0
Czech Republic 0
Ethiopia 0
Hungary 0
Nepal 0
Panama 0
Romania 0
Slovak Republic 0

 

[Pavilionaire]

The Tories might have discussed a more extreme policy but they sure as hell wouldn't have implemented it. This is the sort of measure that could only come in the Nanny State New Labour has created.

Sure, the smoking ban has worked well, although other countries like Ireland proved it could work before we took it up, so New Labour don't get any credit.

I don't believe ID cards will stop terrorists or cut crime, and I don't believe a change in the drink-driving laws will make a difference, but I can guarantee honest people who need their cars to live will be banned because of a technical oversight, not because they are any more likely to kill or maim than they are with today's laws.

 

[Pavilionaire]

Not directed at you though is it ?

I'm sure that a majority of people in this country will have driven with some alcohol in their system at some point so, yes, it is about me and millions more like me.

 

[clapham_gull]

but I can guarantee honest people who need their cars to live will be banned because of a technical oversight, not because they are any more likely to kill or maim than they are with today's laws.

Those between the ages of 17 to 20 ?

 

[clapham_gull]

I'm sure that a majority of people in this country will have driven with some alcohol in their system at some point so, yes, it is about me and millions more like me.

Sorry, the change in the law is directed at very young new drivers, not people like you.

 

[Pavilionaire]

It would be naive to think that this proposed change is purely for 17-20 year olds. It gets brought in, a few doctors and policeman say how wonderful it is and then the age restriction gets lifted.

Great, so instead of a nice family day out in a pub/restaurant with a couple of cheeky drinks mum gets to cook at home while dad gets pissed in front of the football. Either that or he gets burned on the barbecue and the family all get food poisoning.

And if you asked me to name 10 enlightened countries I'd include Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore and Canada - all with the same limits as the UK.

 

[clapham_gull]

It would be naive to think that this proposed change is purely for 17-20 year olds. It gets brought in, a few doctors and policeman say how wonderful it is and then the age restriction gets lifted.

Great, so instead of a nice family day out in a pub/restaurant with a couple of cheeky drinks mum gets to cook at home while dad gets pissed in front of the football. Either that or he gets burned on the barbecue and the family all get food poisoning.

And if you asked me to name 10 enlightened countries I'd include Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore and Canada - all with the same limits as the UK.

That table only shows half the story. Enlightened parts of Canada (as well as other countries) have another lower limit for younger drivers.

In Europe, 14 countries have a zero or close to zero limit for novice or young drivers. The same applies in some states in Australia, New Zealand and in Florida, US.

 

[Pavilionaire]

Without going into detail this country has a unique drinking culture. I would be very concerned if a young person, on turning 21, felt that they could double their intake of alcohol and still be legal to drive. A two-tier policy in this country is simply asking for trouble.

 

[South Yarra Seagull]

of course the best option would be to have a zero BAC limit for all drivers, but this just wont happen.

The next best thing is to firstly differentiate between young and experienced drivers by making them have a 'P' on their cars for the first 2 or 3 years of driving.

Then, as in Australia, double all demerit points for P Platers and HALVE their allowance. And then make it zero BAC for all P Platers.

I ride a scooter on L plates over here and must not have ANY alcohol on my bloodstream whilst on my scooter - if i do and get caught i lose my car license as well.

 

[Pavilionaire]

Is that why there aren't any pubs in Australia and the town centres are generally shit?

 

[South Yarra Seagull]

Is that why there aren't any pubs in Australia and the town centres are generally shit?

Not sure to where you are referring Pavillionaire, but Melbourne is rammed with great pubs and bars - even in the town centre!

 

[Garage_Doors]

the problem with the '2 pint limit' is that no one person has the same tolerance to alcohol. i know of a person who, if they drank 2 pints would be incapable of walking let alone driving.

i think there should be a no drink policy. just my opinion like, as there's no excuse to do it?

Where does this '2 pint limit' come from ?

I dread to think of anyone driving after having two pints , thats just plain irresponsible.

 

[beorhthelm]

Where does this '2 pint limit' come from ?

thats roughly what the limit equates to... but two pints of ale/bitter, not 5% lagers.

i actually think its reasonable to have a lower limit for all new drivers in their first 3 years, regardless of age (which will just provide a issue for the legislation to be challenged in court anyway). but it cant be 0, as dicussed that would mean not being able to drink the night before, or take a range of medicines. It has to be workable or it will be pointless.

 

[Gazwag]

Great, so instead of a nice family day out in a pub/restaurant with a couple of cheeky drinks mum gets to cook at home while dad gets pissed in front of the football. Either that or he gets burned on the barbecue and the family all get food poisoning.

Of course have a few days off with the shits is far worse than wiping out a family driving home. But so long as you keep your RIGHT to drink who cares.

I personally quite enjoy a pint of shandy whilst eating out if I am driving out of respect to the lives I have in my hands driving home again. Afterall I can just have another drink when I get home.

Keep the limit as it is and set up a random breath test teams who spend their evening stopping motorist. But of course that would enfringe our civil liberties.

 

[simmo]

of course the best option would be to have a zero BAC limit for all drivers, but this just wont happen.

The next best thing is to firstly differentiate between young and experienced drivers by making them have a 'P' on their cars for the first 2 or 3 years of driving.

Then, as in Australia, double all demerit points for P Platers and HALVE their allowance. And then make it zero BAC for all P Platers.

I ride a scooter on L plates over here and must not have ANY alcohol on my bloodstream whilst on my scooter - if i do and get caught i lose my car license as well.

So if you got out the night before and socialise with your friends and say have 2 pints of lager, how do you know when you are safe to drive the next day?

 

[surrey jim]

Should be zero for all drivers,
Absolutely no reason for it,
Would stop all these drivers saying " just one won't hurt will it "

 

[Cian]

I'm unsure as to this, story was on a loop on News24 last night in the background and the statistics being rolled out sounded very shaky and were never backed up. Makes a change from solely chasing speed as the main danger on the road like the authorities here and in and Northern Ireland do.

In NI, new drivers are restricted for a time period after getting their test - maximum speed limits, must display "R" plates, and so on. I don't think its had an appreciable affect on road safety. This is unlikely to have a major affect either due to how few people get caught. Better enforcement of the existing rules first...

 

[British Bulldog]

So if you got out the night before and socialise with your friends and say have 2 pints of lager, how do you know when you are safe to drive the next day?

Even with the limits as they are it's still every drivers responsibility to know when they are safe to drive anyway.

 

[simmo]

Even with the limits as they are it's still every drivers responsibility to know when they are safe to drive anyway.

I should imagine that most people when they get behind a wheel think they are safe to drive. It's only the idiots that do not and a 80Mg (around 2 pints) or zero is not going to make a blind bit of difference to them, they will do it in any case.

However, with a zero policy if you have a small amount to drink the previous evening, how can you know whether (and at what time) you are legally allowed to drive or not the next day.

 

[British Bulldog]

However, with a zero policy if you have a small amount to drink the previous evening, how can you know whether (and at what time) you are legally allowed to drive or not the next day.

It takes the average persons body 1 hour to break down each unit of alcohol so if you have 4 units then allow 4 hours then an extra hour to be on the safe side.